A history of Pearses published in a CB annual by Liam Steele

The decade following the end of the Second World War was grim indeed. Most, if not all, of life's necessities could only be obtained through the ex­change of "coupons". Bread, meat, clothing, even sweets were rationed. Fresh fruit was a luxury that some children only experienced at Christmas time when an orange and an apple mysteriously appeared down in the toe of the Christmas stocking.Belfast had taken a pasting from German bombs and great areas of "waste ground" or "debris" (pronounced "debriss!") provided the only open spaces in some working class areas of the city.

Children being the great make-doers that they are soon converted these patches of bare earth, rub­ble and rubbish into mini Wembleys or CrokeParks depending on their preference or the tradition in their district.

In the St. Patrick's Parish area of North Belfast, there was no CrokePark tradition since there was no GAA presence. Given that the Brothers had a Primary School in the Parish and that our Gaelic games were actively fostered there (making use of the "debris" just across North Queen Street from the bottom of the New Lodge Road) it seemed on ly natural to channel the skids of these young boys into a GAA Club

Bro. Leonard from St Patrick's, Donegall Street and several men from the Parish - notably Seamas Hamson - came together and so Cumann an Phiarsaigh/Patrick Pearse G A C came into being "The Pearses" as they soon came to be known found that being the only club in that part of the city had tremendous drawbacks There was no permanent premises and no home ground All matches had to be played away in the Falls Road parks and there was the attitude among some older-established clubs that the newcomers were not exactly welcome

However the newcomers soon make their presence well and truly felt The days of the Falls Road teams ruling the GAA roost were over Over the years, the Pearses have captured practically every football title for which they could play, these include the Antrim County titles at Minor, Junior and Intermediate level and eventually capturing the top prize: the Antrim County Senior Championship The Under-16's have many times proved their mettle as can be seen from the photograph taken in 1951.

In these early days, the Pearses were notable in that the playing membership was drawn almost en­tirely from St Patrick's Donegall Street Early mentors who have unstintingty of their time and exper­tise in the service of the young Club were - T. D. Mickey, Br. Sullivan, who died so unexpectedly recently, Br. Woods, who introduced Hurling into the Club along with Br. Hanly.

Other guiding lights who were not Brothers but who shared their vision and enthusiasm for the ideals of the GAA were Tom Moore, Arthur Steele, Charley Duffy and Donall Greene.

Just as St. Patrick's, Donegal! Street has provid­ed the Pearses with both players and administrators through the years, so Pearses men have figured in the activities of the Union Among the earliest members of the Pearses who are active members of the Union are James T. Johnston, the current President, Brian Mclvor, Tom Hannon, Liam Steele and Henry O'Prey.

One might think it quite a coincidence that just as the Union is in the throes of extending its premises, so the Pearses have just this year moved into their first permanent home further up the Antrim Road We wish them every success.